Pan dumping device



INVENTOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 26, 1953 K H OTTE PAN DUMPING DEVICE Filed July 5, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

May 26, 1953 K. H. OTTE PAN DUMPING DEVICE Filed July 3, 1948 May 26, 1953 K. H. QTTE PAN DUMPING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 3, 1948 I INVENTOR.

May 26, 1953 K. H. OTTE PAN 'DUMPING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 3, 1948 May 26, 1953 K, H, 'QTTE 2,639,827

PAN DUMPING DEVICE Filed July 5, 1948 I s Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEIV TOR.

Patented May 26, 1953 UNITED STATES tarsus scarier.

PAN DUMPING DEVICE Karl H. 0tte,: Chicago, 111.; assignor .to; Burity Bakeries Service Corporation,, a corporation ;of

Illinois Application July 3, 1948, Serial No: 36,972

An important operation in the manufacture-of bread commercially is the removal of the bread from baking pans after their emergence from the baking oven. Such bread removal-must be accomplished soon after the bread leaves the oven,

in order toforestall sticking ofthe bread to the pans,- and frequently requires performing this operation close to the baking ovens where the temperature is relatively high and working conditions; due to the heat of the oven as well as;

the temperature of the bread-containing pans, are far from satisfactory. As commonly performed in the industry, the hot bread filled pans are emptied manually by one or more workers who lift the pans, give them an impact shock to loosen the loaves, and then invert the pans to remove the bread. The performance of this operation not only entails the operators working under Very uncomfortable conditions, but is unsatisfactory for other reasons, such as the noise associated with shocking the pans, and the resulting damage to the pans causedby cumulative bending and warping.

One object of this invention is to provide a means for automatically extracting baked bread from baking pans.

Another object is to provide a meansior rapidly and automatically separatingbaked bread from containers therefor.

A further object is to provide a device for au- I 2 "-Fig: 6 is a detail view-of a,.portionnf a-switch mechanism which actuates the frame-rotating mechanism of Fig. 5,'shown as the-switch is being contacted by aisetof baking pans;

"Fig. 7-,is a detail view of alatch'mechanism whichcontrolstheieecling of pan sets intothe rotatable frame;

' Fig: 8 is aplan view of a modified form of my 1 invention, zandv shows a; device rorsimultaneously dumping two pan sets;

' Fig; 9 is asideview of thedcvice of Fig; 8; and :Fig. 10 is a =view' ofthe device of Fig. 8 along The particular embodiment of my invention shown iii-Figs; l through 7 crime drawings is adaptedfor use: with an-input conveyor belt H,

i which delivers bread filled pan-sets *IZ to-the device, and output conveyor belts"! Sand 1 4=which carry awayloaves ofbread and empty pan sets,

pan sets -I2 and carry them'through' acycle of inverting movementa arotatable,horizontal shaft "IT to whichthe frame 16 is-secured; suitable means, such as a; rdouble' actionpneumatic-cylinder LI 3, for rotating shaft H; a. switch mechanism 19 for actuating the pneumatic cylinder 18; a

'- latch element *2 l*'for-effecting controlled feeding tomatically removing bread from baking pans" and depositing the bread, ,right side up, on a I conveyor belt.

Another object is to provide a device for removingbread from containers which is adaptable for handling loaves of various sizes and; shapes.

'The attaimnent of these and other objects -wi'l1 best be understood fromthe following detailed description and accompanying drawings in --which:

d'ev-ice embodying my invention;

Eig. 211s aplan view oi the device shown-in F .1,

,7 Big. 3ris. an end view of the,'device'shown'z-in of pan setsi'ntothe frame {16; a chute-ZZ-for receiving -ejected -loaves oi--- b-r'eadand dire'cting them onto an output conveyor belt I3; turnover guides-23'; and" 2 1; and a turnover bar 25' for imparting a somersault movement to loaves of bread during-thecourse of their ejection from the pans.

- As showmjthe support I 5 has legs 26 and upper side members 21, "28, 29 and" 30. forming; the skeletalframework to which'the component elements of'the' device are secured. Positioned between-side members -21 and 28 are rollers 3!, the ends of the rollers being supported-by bearings .45 Fig. 1 is a side-elevation of a pan dimming 32 suitably secured thereto. Near the input side of thexdeviceris positioned an angle guide 33 which directs the. incoming. pan sets 12 so that their forward. movement will cause. the. pan sets I2 to contact;v the bumper, or roller 1340113119,

switch 9. ,;In-order-to accommodate pans f different Widths, the angle guide33 i izmwably-isecured ft0,:thQ upper members of vthe-,$ .1 110. %;1,!5

; by means of bolts-35,, :as shownin Fig 2.

Lik wise pos tion d: n ar the inp t side ivt devic iis. aiatch. 2.1- s-. h sashown in Fig. '7, the latch mechanism 2| ispivotally connected to a side member 29 of the support I5, and has one end connected to a leg 26 of the support I5 by means of a spring 39 (Fig. 7) The other end of the latch 2| extends vertically upward to form a tongue 36 which interrupts the forward movement of pan sets I2 in accordance with the rotation of shaft IT. The upwardly projecting tongue element 36 of the latch 2I is connected to the arm portion thereof by means of bolts 31, as shown, and may be replaced by one of different size to operate with pan sets of various sizes.

As also shown in Fig. '7, the upper portion'of the latch arm 2| forms a riding surface for a cam 38 which is secured to the shaft IT by a bolt M. The purpose of the cam 38 is to control the upward and downward movement of the latch tongue 36, in accordance with the rotation of the shaft I I, and thereby control the forward movement of the incoming pan sets I2, as will be explained hereinafter. i

The rotatable frame I6, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, consists of two end sections 42 and 43, each of which is fastened to the shaft I1 by means of shaft couplings 44 and 45. Each of these end members 42 and 43 is adjustable to accommodate baking pans'of different widths, by means of set-screws 46 and 41 engaging telescopable portions of the aforesaid end sections 42 and '43, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Desirably the width and height of end members 42 and 43 is greater cured to the side member 21 by means of bolts 48, and serve to provide an impact and guiding surface for the forward edge of a pan set I 2 during its inversion by the frame I6.

Rigidly secured to the shaft couplings 44 and 45, which connect the frame I6 to shaft II, are counterbalances 5| and 52 which serv to balance the weight of the frame I6 on shaft IT, as best shown in Fig. 2. Rotation of the frame I 5 about the shaft I 'I is accomplished by the reciprocal movement of the piston arm 53 of a pneumatic cylinder I8 pivotally secured to the frame I5, acting through a crank arm 54 (best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5), which connects arm 53 with the shaft I'I.

Fig. 5 shows in detail the construction of the pneumatic apparatus comprising cylinder I8 operatively connected to solenoid valve 55 through the pivoted elbow element 56, cylinder 51, and air conduits 58 and 59. The solenoid 55 is connected to switch I9 by electrical conduits 62.

Cylinder I8, as illustrated, is of a type such as the Model K cylinder, 3 grip, 4 stroke, cushioned at both ends, manufactured by the Anker- Holth Mfg. Co., 2743 Connors St, Port Huron, Michigan.

The solenoid valve unit 55 is of a type such as the single plunger, single solenoid valve #2523 5 S. A. 4, Q. A. W., manufactured by C. B. Hunt & Son, Inc., 1870 E. Pershing St., Salem, Ohio.

The switch mechanism I9 may be of the type known as the #9007 L. D. 5 Square D limit switch, manufactured by the Square D Company, 6060 Rivard St., Detroit 11, Michigan. The switch I9 operates the solenoid valve 55, and has a roller tri 63 with a spring return'actuated by a wedge 64 and a lifting finger 65 on the crank arm 54, the switch I9 being movably secured to the support I5 by a bolt 40 to permit adjustment of its position for various pan sizes.

Secured to the upper members of support structure I5 is a turnover bar 25, best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The end portions of the turnover bar 25 are threadably connected to knurled head screw members 66 and 61, the screw members being fixedly positioned within housings 68 and 69. The housings 68 and 69 are rigidly secured to slotted bars I2 and 73, respectively, and the bars movably connected to the upper support members 29 and 30 by means of wing nuts I4 and 15, whereby to permit increasing or decreasing the distance between the turnover bar 25 and shaft I'I. Thus it is seen that the turnover bar 25 is movable both horizontally and vertically.

A bread chute 22, having side guides 38 suitably secured to the support I5, is positioned below the turnover bar 25, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, suitably secured to the support I 5, terminates generally below the rotating frame I6 and rollers 3|, and serves to deposit discharged loaves of bread onto a moving conveyor I3. A guard member I6 is preferably secured to the legs 26 of the support I5 (as shown in Fig. 4) for assisting in the interception of loaves of bread upon discharge from the pans.

In operation, bread filled pan sets I2, each consisting, for example, of four pans, nter the device, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, from a conveyor belt I I, and are guided by means of the angle guide 33 so that one edge of the pan sets is in close proximity to the ends of the rollers 3| closest to the rotating shaft H. A pan set I2 moves forward on the rollers 3I until the forward edge of the pan strikes the roller 34 0f the switch mechanism I9. The roller 34 thereupon moves forward and actuates the switch mechanism I9, which results in de-energizing the solenoid valve 55, which causes the elbow member 56 to move to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, whereupon air enters cylinder 5'I, passes through a conduit 53 into cylinder I8, and pushes the arm 53 of cylinder I8 forward. This movement results in rotating the shaft I! and simultaneously tilting the frame I6 to the position shown in Fig. 4. The rotating movement of the frame I6 causes the pan set I2 to first drop against turn-over guides 23 and 24, and then, as the rotation is continued, to slide against the upper portion of the frame I6 whereby to impart an additional shock to the pan set I2. This loosens the bread in the pans, the loaves leave the pans, the lower portions of the loaves strike the turnover bar 25, the loaves perform a somersault and drop right side up onto the chute 22. From the chute the loaves slide onto the bread conveyor I3.

As soon as frame I6 reaches the position shown in Fig. 4, the finger 65 on crank arm 54 pushes the wedge 64 upwardly against the trip 63 of switch I9. This results in closing the circuit, actuating the solenoid valve 55, and causes elbow 56 to move t the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 5, which moves the piston element 60 in cylinder 5'! to the right, cuts off air flow through conduit 58, and forces air into the 0pposite end of cylinder I8 through conduit 59. This moves arm 53 to the left and results in rotating shaft I! back to its original position. The latter movement of the frame I6 causes the empty pan set I2 contained therein to slide outwardly, due to centrifugal force, so that on return of the frame I6 to its original position the pan' set pan-detaining position above therolls :3]

-isr stin asainstithecu e meetehdeotthetmm 4t, 1. e, the. end iar hes em hait -l lzthe bein nsequ nt y: n eonte tbe weenitheturne h x set. 1.2 andstheit i q ler 1 simultane y' with th or the frame lie-the. 1a ch mech i smfi d-n v' tothe position; shownii' dfitted; lines; in Fig and the: interposition of the-latch tong-note upr y tw n: the o lere 3- Kat shown-do Fi 3) prevents the inward movement. ct; subsequent pan. sets. The returnvmoyement; of; the frame It simultaneously causes. a rloweri-ng of ithelatch tongue 36:, which; is-,-so; synchronized the movement of. the frame- I'6 thatthe1pos io in of-the frame i6, as shown in Fi s esu tsi an incomin full pan. set t2: lpushi sthei mntie pan-set. out of .the: frame onto, a beit/conveyor:14,

as shownin Fig. 2.

Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive illustrate a modified form of; my device adapted -for-. si;multaneously dump-- ing two pan sets. As; shown in the drawingsthe device-employs tworotating frames-t6 whichrenaive and simultaneously 'inver-t two: bread-con- -tainingpan sets .12.

synchronizethe rotationof; the framesJG thereis; provided a latch: 15; whose movement is, controlled by a solenoid i-l', :operativelyconnected To control and properly to; two. photoelectric cells; 1% and 19;. 'Iyhe .latch it. acts, together 'with; asecond-latch: 8|, to insure, the entrance of two tull-rpansets into the receiving frames, 16.

' connected' to. thef'rame l5. Oneendofzthelatch .81 is; connectedto as-pringzfi-Zythespringzbeingrigidly-fastened tog thetframey l .5;-as shown; the other end of the latch ill-is provided ,withan-npwardly projecting. tongue 83; which is-movable vertically between therolls. 3| atthe span-receiving-end -of Y thendevice, asshownein .8. The upper portion of the latch-'81 provides a, riding surface. for a-crank arm M-whichwis-rigidly; secured to shaft l'l When the 'rotatingvf-ramevlfi is in panreceiving position; as show-nin-Fig; 'lflythe; spring .82: is under tension, and the pressure, of crank arm 84 on the riding surface of latchtbmaintains thelatch tongue 83 below the surface of the rolls .3 l. Rotation of" shaft l'lwclockwiseemoves the crank arm tie-clockwise, WhGIBllDOIPthez-tthsion of-spring .82 moves latchetongue 8.3-- into E-hus it is seen that pan sets .lbcanenter the device only when the frames Hieand latch-tongue '83 are: in the positions shownin Fig: 10.

The latch it-is likewisepivotally-secured to the frame [5 and connected at one endtospringu85 the spring being-secured to'the, leg $26,, as shown in Fig. 10.

This spring connected. end. Of? the latch leis operativelyconnectedwto asolenoid ill-bymeans of aconnecting arm Bll wherebyactivation of the solenoid "H; moves'the connecting- ,arm at: upwardlyv and-results indepressingthe f :latchtongue 92 sufficiently to permit the passage .of pan sets thereover. "Thesolenoidll-'- ismounted 1 on thesupportingstructure '15 by means of a plate--93; secured to theframeworktlli by bolts. 86.

The photoelectricv cells I8. and 19,1321'8 mounted on a side member Beef-framework 81-, supported @by legs 88. The cells-1'8 and :IQ are:nxovzalolysecured to side member'flSl'of-the supporting structure Why means ofbolts :9 LWhichpassPthmugh slots in the side member,- which arrangement .permits moving the=photoelectric=cellsw1iiand IQ a itud ly, f r. cooperati n w thoif erent siz s fl 'l et w-Thetnhetoe e .areconneQtd. series: to

creche J8.- an 1 =1 nest-se ment d do the-s en d th t how n aer s t sqlth tt e thiiiold b k.- u pan Sets un eve stop in ront. o e ch-pho o c ric cell. The cells {(8- and-19,- are operatively CODz QGted to twodi ht sources. 195 and -9:6,--each adapted to throw a beam .oflight to the oppositely positioned photoelectriccell. The lamps fli and. 9.6 are mounted-on side memberfil]; of frame. 81 in the samemanner. :as the photoce1-1s;.-18-. and J9, and

,connectedto asuitablesource of current.

In operation abroad-containing pan sets 12 move forward on the conveyor belt H -until..-the

light beam betweenboth of thephotoelectric cells .ldand 13 is interrupted by. av pan. When this :occursthe-solenoid ",which may be controlled through a relay; not shown,.becomes activated and .pulls; the spring-connected. end -.of thelatch "l5 upward1y,-Which results in latch tongue 92 moving below itslpanedetaining position. :Two .20..

bread-containing pan sets are thena-pushed into the rotating frames I6. l The leading full panset trips the limit switch-id, which results in rotating the frames 16 as, hereinbefore described.

The particular form of. invention shown'in Figs. 8through 10. is especially suitablefor use with aninput. conveyor belt del-ivering;..breadfilled. pan sets at arelatively high rate of speed,

for example. twenty sets per minute. In-order to, accommodate pan sets at such aqrate the single pandevice described in Figs. Lthrough'l would. have to :periormtwenty pan-inverting operations perm-mute. This-results, frequently, in imparting a .slingshot effect to the ejected loaves, which-may damage; the loaves.

loaves, but. is less noisome.

It is understood. of course, that the device of myinvention maybe modified to receive. and

dump even lar er number of pan-sets per cycle of operation, and maynconsequently operateatan even slower rate. It. isalso understood that while I; have described a;-mea-ns of controlling the number of pan-sets whichhare delivered to; the device for one --inverting operation, by a means includingphotoelectric-cells, this control may be accomplished in otherways, as

will be evident to those skilled in the art.

; The devicetofmy invention,--in its several forms, .permits the automatic removal of bread from baking pans rapidly and-ehiciently, and is well adapted for use with otherautomatiemachinery in a bakery production line. .Among the novel and important features of my invention is'the .provisioniorimparting a plurality of shocks to thebread-containi-ng .pan sets in order to more efiicientlyrlooseri the-loaves. Another feature is the uniqueemeans for centrifugally positioning emptied pan sets. in the rotating fi'ame-inzorder to return the pan sets .to thebed of the device, sothat, thepansets are-out of ,contact with the I .switch roller.

. Other advantages. associated with my novel device are a. substantial; decrease in pan damage,

andwthe; simple.adjustability ofcomponents of the deyice to accommodatehpans and loaves of varying size and: weight.

I. claim as my. invention: In evic 0. 3 removina mreadloaves; item 7 baking pans, the combination of a support, a delivery conveyor for moving loaded pans in a forward direction to said support, an open frame mounted adjacent to the support on a horizontal axis substantially [parallel to said direction of movement and having its bottom wall normally positioned below the plane of said support whereby loaded pans are moved by said delivery conveyor onto said support and within the confines of said frame, means for rotating the frame in one direction about said axis to at least partially invert the pan within the frame and in the opposite direction to return the emptied pan to the support, said frame having a vertical dimension suificient to provide a substantial clearance between the top of the pan and the top of the frame whereby when said frame is rotated in said one direction it falls by gravity against the top of the frame to impart to the pan an impact which jars the bread loose from the pan, and a receiver for the ejected bread loaves.

2. In a device for removing bread loaves from bakin pans, the combination of a support, a delivery conveyor for moving loaded pans in a forward direction to said support, means for laterally biasing the pans toward one side of the support, an open frame mounted adjacent to the support on a horizontal axis substantially parallel to said direction of movement and having its bottom wall normally positioned below the plane of said support whereby loaded pans are moved by said delivery conveyor onto said support and within the confines of said frame, means for rotating the frame in one direction about said axis to at least partially invert the pan within the frame, control means actuated by movement of a pan onto the support for operating said frame-rotating means, said control means including a trip located adjacent the side of the support toward which the pans are biased, said frame having a vertical and lateral dimension sufiicient to provide a substantial clearance between the top and side of the pan with respect to the frame whereby when said frame is rotated in said one direction it falls by gravity against the top of the frame to impart to the pan an impact which jars the bread loose from the pan, said frame rotating means also rotating the frame in the opposite direction to return .the emptied pan to the sup-port and to laterally displace the emptied pans away from the side of the support upon which said trip is located, whereby the emptied pans may be removed from said support by oncoming loaded pans to the support without operating said trip, and a receiver for the ejected bread loaves.

3. In a device for removing bread loaves from baking pans, the combination of a support, a delivery conveyor for moving loaded pans in a forward direction to said support, means for laterally biasing the ,pans toward one side of the support, an open frame mounted adjacent to the sup-port on a horizontal axis substantially parallel to said direction of movement and having its bottom wall normally positioned below the plane of said support whereby loaded pans are moved by said delivery conveyor onto said support and within the confines of said frame, means for rotating the frame in one direction about said axis to at least partially invert the pan within.

the frame, control means actuated by movement of a pan onto the support for operating said frame-rotating means, said control means including a tri located adjacent the side of the support toward which the pans are biased, said frame having a vertical and side dimension sufficient to provide a substantial clearance between the top and side of the pan with respect to the frame whereby when said frame is rotated in said one direction it falls by gravity against the top of the frame to impart to the pan an impact which jars the bread loosefrom the pan, said frame rotating means also rotating the frame in the opposite direction to return the emptied pan to the support and to laterally displace the emptied pans away from the side of the support upon which said trip is located, whereby the emptied pans may be removed from said support by oncoming loaded pans to the support without operating said trip, means for limiting the number of pans permitted on the support at one time, said means including a stop interposed in the line of movement of succeeding pans, and a receiver for the ejected bread loaves.

4. In a device for removing bread loaves from baking pans, the combination of a, support, a delivery conveyor for movin loaded pans in a forward direction to said support, an open frame mounted adjacent to the support on a horizontal axis substantially parallel to said direction of movement and having its bottom wall normally positioned below the plane of said support whereby loaded pans are moved by said delivery conveyor onto said support and within the confines of said frame, means for rotating the frame in one direction about said axis to at least partially invert the pan within the frame, said frame having a vertical dimension sufficient to provide a substantial clearance between the top of the pan and the top of the frame whereby when said fram is'rotated in said one direction it falls by gravity against the top of the frame to impart to the pan an impact which jars the bread loose from the pan, said frame rotating means also rotating the frame in the opposite direction to return the emptied pan to the support, a receiver for the ejected bread loaves, and a turnover bar interposed before the receiver in the path of the falling loaves to right the loaves before reaching the receiver. i

5. In a device for removing bread loaves from baking pans, the combination of a support, a delivery conveyor for moving loaded pans in a forward direction to said support, an open frame mounted adjacent to the support on a horizontal axis substantially parallel to said direction of movement and having its bottom wall normally positioned below the plane of said support whereby loaded pans are moved by said delivery conveyor onto said support and within the confines of said frame, means for rotating the frame in one direction about said aXis to at least partially invert the pan within the frame, said frame having a vertical and lateral dimension sufficient to provide a substantial clearance between the top and side of the pan with respect to the frame whereby when said frame is rotated in said one direction it falls by gravity against the top of the frame to impart to the pan an impact which jars the bread loose from the pan, an arcuate guide engaging the pans during movement of the frame to fix'their lateral position within the frame, said frame rotating means also rotating the frame in the opposite direction to return the emptied pan to the support, and a receiver for the ejected bread loaves.

6. In a device as set forth in claim 1, the combination therewith of contact means responsive to movement of pans into the frame for actuating said frame rotating means in said one direction.

7. A device as set forth in claim 1, in which the frame, in addition to having a vertical dimension sufficient to provide clearance between the top of the pan and the top of the frame, also has a lateral dimension greater than the width of the pan, whereby as the frame starts to rotate, the pan is first moved laterally within the frame by gravity and brought to a sudden stop and then, as the rotation of the frame continues, the pan falls by gravity against the top of the frame to provide a second sudden stop of movement of the pan, said sudden stops causing the contents of the pan to be effectively discharged when the pan is in said at least partially inverted position.

8. In a device as set forth in claim 1, the combination therewith of means for preventing delivery of pan sets from the conveyor to said support until the frame is in its normal retracted position.

9. A device for extracting bread from baking pans comprising a support across which the loaded pans move in a forward direction, an open frame having top and side portions mounted on the support for rotation about a horizontal axis parallel to said forward direction and adapted to receive within its confines and with substantial side and top clearance, a set of bread containing pans, means for rotating the frame in a, direction to at least partially invert the pans and subjecting the pans during such rotation to translatory movement within the frame followed by a sudden stop to thereby jar the bread from the pans and cause it to fall therefrom, said rotating means also moving the frame in the opposite direction to return the empty pans to the support.

10. In a device as set forth in claim 9, the combination therewith of means for controlling the trajectory of the bread as it leaves the pans thereby to deposit said bread on a surface in upright position.

KARL H. O'I'TE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 1 Date 1,283,090 Cox Oct. 29, 1918 1,462,468 Schaller July 17, 1923 1,473,996 McGarry Nov. 3, 1923 1,561,664 Rathwell Nov. 17, 1925 1,700,944 Loew Fb. 5, 1929 1,967,719 Morgan July 24, 1934 2,344,664 Adams Mar. 21, 1944 2,462,021 Harker Feb. 15, 1949 2,524,656 Eyster Oct. 3, 1950 

